TRIBUTE TO BUBBA
Today has some special meaning to me. It was 12 years ago today that Keaton was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, otherwise known as bone cancer. We've come a long way since then and I thought today I'd share a brief summary of his cancer story along with some pictures to correspond with events.
Keaton was such a happy and fun loving child, always on the go. He only weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. at birth but quickly chubbed up to 32 lbs by age one. Somewhere in there he earned the nickname "Bubba".
Here he is at 6 months and 22 lbs...
Just after starting kindergarten our lives turned upside down when I felt a strange mass in Keaton's thigh as I massaged what we thought were growing pains. We spent the whole day on Halloween that year at Primary Children's Hospital having tests run. The following Monday (Nov. 3rd) Dr. Scott did a biopsy and came out with the news that it was definitely cancer. He immediately started to undergo chemotherapy.
That first treatment was a nightmare since Kameron (age 2 1/2) had simultaneously broken out with Chicken Pox. If you know a thing or two about cancer, you know that chemo knocks out your immune system and something as seemingly simple as Chicken Pox can kill you. Since Keaton had been exposed, the hospital had to take extra precautions by isolating him from any other children in the hospital. They also limited the visitors he could have. This picture above is Bubba's way of blocking us out as we tried to explain that things would be better the next time he was in the hospital. He wasn't having any of it!
I thought it would be hard when he started to lose his hair...
...but he thought it was cool to be "slick like Michael Jordan"!
It was discouraging at first when he didn't have much of an appetite because they told us how important it was for him to maintain his weight and avoid a feeding tube. One nurse in particular, Mary, was so awesome with him. She would sit with him and feed him while making up fun games with the food. She always talked to him as if he was an adult and helped him feel in control by giving him options. Side note: Keaton still insists on visiting Mary to this day if we have to go to Primary Children's Hospital.
Quickly enough, we got used to frequent hospital stays, fevers, LOTS of blood transfusions, daily injections (by who, you ask? Mom....uggh!) and way too much hospital cafeteria food. Keaton didn't always feel good and rarely looked good to those on the outside...
However, he rarely got discouraged and refused to let all the medical treatments slow him down. A favorite memory of mine is how he used his IV pole as a "scooter" through the hospital halls while at the same time eating a piece of pizza. The very pizza that he would ask the nurses to order as he was being admitted each time (the nearby Domino's delivered a free medium cheese pizza to the kids in that unit once per stay in the hospital). Wish I had a picture of that.
Kameron and Kennadi with big brother, Bubba.
Kameron and Keaton
w/baby sister, Kennadi
Keaton called the broviac (tubes inserted into the main artery going to his heart to administer the chemo and draw blood, etc.) his "Power Rangers" and said they were helping him get better. Whenever I had to give him daily injections to raise his white blood cell count, he said I was giving the Power Rangers more fuel to fight Cancer.
After several months of chemotherapy, Dr. Scott did surgery to remove the tumor in his hamstring muscle. That same evening as he awoke from the surgery -- keep in mind they cut him from just below the buttock all the way down the back of his thigh to right above the knee --the doctors brought in a pair of crutches and said they would have the physical therapist show him how to use them the next morning so he could get up and around. Instead, Keaton got out of bed, took the crutches, and sped down the hall showing off the fact that he didn't need anyone to teach him and he wasn't waiting another day to get out of bed.
Because a small piece of the tumor was wrapped around the sciatic nerve, Keaton had to undergo daily radiation treatments for 6 weeks straight. This was in addition to the continued chemotherapy treatments he received. But, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as he finished his final day of radiation, we raced to the airport to catch our plane that would deliver us to DisneyWorld to fulfill his "wish".
American Airlines gave him a soft blanket which had been embroidered for him...
We spent a magical 6 days at Universal Studios, the Magic Kingdom...
Sea World...
and an awesome place called Give Kids the World Village where we stayed every night and received visits and souveniers from Mayor Rabbit and friends. This wish seemed to rejuvenate us all and give us the strength to finish out the remainder of the year of chemo, etc.
Soon after our return, Keaton was selected to be one of the first children to try their "outpatient chemotherapy". He would go to the hospital for the regular tests, etc. and then get hooked up to the chemo which he carried around in a backpack with a battery operated pump. For the remainder of each treatment, he could be at home and free of the IV pole he detested so much. He loved it and it was very successful.
With the help of so many trained medical professionals, great neighbors and the most awesome, loving friends and family ever, we survived and Keaton is now a healthy, happy, er...typical teenager with an attitude. ha ha
He is currently a junior in high school and it is no longer necessary for him to have cancer check-ups. We've had a few scares along the way and some long-term side effects from the treatments but we are so blessed and are so grateful that he is alive and well. We appreciate the love and influence of all of you in our lives.
Hurray for Bubba kicking cancer's butt!
These are just the pics I had on my phone. I've developed a special bond with these new friends and so many more. One staff member, Shanon Johnson, passed away last summer before I got the chance to work with him. I knew him a little as Keaton's teacher, the girls' basketball coach, and a fellow district employee. He had so many close friends among the staff, studentbody and community and his passing left a huge void for everyone; most of all, his family.
